The Indiana State Museum: Worth a Visit?

The Indiana State Museum is a surprisingly chic and sophisticated educational museum experience. Located on the scenic canal at the heart of downtown Indianapolis, it offers a complete and well-rounded experience on the exterior of the museum as well as being highly recreational on the interior.

For starters, let's talk about that exterior. The museum showcases sculpted artistic panels located all around the exterior of the museum. There is one representing each county in Indiana, and half the fun of this can be taking your kids around and looking to locate your home county's plaque. Also, when the weather is nice, there's plenty of landscaping, and several paths to the canal. On the backside of the museum facing the canal, there is a fully operational steam clock that goes off on the hour. You'll also be treated to a handful of photo opportunities not unlike what you would see at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

The museum is connected to an underground parking garage, so weather shouldn't ever be a problem for you. The garage is fairly inexpensive as far as indoor parking goes as well, rates are very reasonable. There is a large lobby area when you enter the museum that allows you to choose the attraction you want to visit without having to pay unnecessary fees for those that you don't want to visit. There's one ticket counter where you can buy tickets for the IMAX theater, which is also in the building, or the museum itself.

The Indiana State Museum takes you on a chronological journey of the state, going as far back as the beginning of time. If that seems ambitious, it absolutely is. You'll see plenty of fossils and even a few well-preserved and restored animals. Especially impressive is the Mastodon, the kids usually enjoy that artifact most of all. The history of the Native Americans is explored, as well as wildlife that is native to the state. You'll be treated to re-creations of pioneer housing, historical photographs of Indiana from the 1800's, and even a small area that acts as a tribute to all the celebrities hailing from the mid-western state.

One of my favorite parts of the museum is the gravity clock, which operates solely with the power of the spinning of the Earth. (It looks almost exactly like the clock that Daniel Farraday's mother uses on "LOST". So enjoy that mini-geek moment there.) The museum is laid out in a very original fashion, with three stories laid out in an open-tiered architectural display format. Of course, there are the standard display cases of artifacts, recordings and recreations of important historical moments, important art from within the state, and friendly staff available to answer your questions. I also want to note that this museum actually has a very nice café area, an excellent gift shop, and several beautiful views and pleasant natural light thanks to the expansive windows.

All Indiana Museums seem to be of the highest quality, especially based on many museums that I've visited overseas and in the Southwestern United States. If you live in the Mid-West, you're in prime museum country and should definitely take advantage of that fact. The Indiana State Museum offers a fun day, no matter what the ages of those you are taking along. It also makes an excellent date day on the weekend, a great rainy day interior activity, or a fun destination for any families that attend church downtown on Sundays. I most definitely recommend a visit, especially if you're a museum geek like me. Take note, because the museum also houses many conventions, art, and business expos. So be sure to check the schedule for special events!